101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure

Movie review by Sarah Wenk, Common Sense Media
101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Entertaining animated sequel has some peril and violence.

G 2003 70 minutes
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Parents say

age 4+

Based on 7 reviews

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 7 reviews

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  • 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Movie: Scene One
  • 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Movie: Scene Two
  • 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Movie: Scene Three

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that 101 Dalmatians: Patch's London Adventure is a 2003 animated sequel in which Patch teams up with a TV star dog to stop Cruella from turning the dogs into abstract art. Expect a fair amount of cartoon violence and pratfalls, particularly in scenes in which the dogs watch a black-and-white TV show starring a heroic dog named Thunderbolt, who gets whipped by the villain on top of a moving train before tying up the whip around the villain's legs, causing him to fall inside of a train car with an angry bull. Outside of the TV show, Cruella is up to her old tricks, is shown knocking out a dog with a paint can, knocks her henchmen out with a tire iron, throws knives at a pretentious artist before leaving him tied to one of his canvases. Anita and Roger's maid hits the villains with a frying pan, before they retaliate by lowering her into a well and leaving her there. Cruella talks of ways in which the dalmatians might be killed (drowning, etc.), before suggesting that their fur be converted into artwork. Vehicle chase involving an out-of-control double-decker bus. Doggie delivery truck carjacked by the villains, who dress as women as a way to fool the driver. Dogs lured into the back of the doggie treat truck. Cruella always shown with a smoking cigarette in a holder. Brief shots of attendees of an art gallery opening holding cocktails.

Community Reviews

SoSmooth1982
SoSmooth1982 Adult
July 15, 2022
age 2+
Holly R.
Holly R. Adult
August 4, 2019
age 2+

Another bad direct to DVD Disney sequel...

This movie has ok animation that was done in Japan using Toon Boom Harmony software and has an interesting enough plot at first glance except that it is done in the most horrible way possible. The movie could have been so much better but there's really problematic issues with the entire time of the film. At times it seems like it wants to be a more serious film exploring the concept of not feeling like an important member of the family and Patch looking to Thunder Bolt as a father figure. But then it gets more silly in some parts like it's trying to be a little bitty kids film, while also having some really creepy and disturbing parts mixed into what could have been a nice film for children. It's like it's trying to be for all age groups whilst alienating all of the age groups that it is trying to appeal to. On top of all that is the fact that Cruella De'ville now wants to turn the puppies into artwork instead of a fur coat which sounds silly until you start to realise that if that was done in real life it would involve using puppy parts like blood as the paint which is not a happy thought at all. And then Cruella busts the two crooks out of prison in one scene that involves cross dressing and flirting with a dog food truck driver and playing "icecream truck music" to lure the puppies into being captured (stranger danger anyone?) The film is just a mess of side plots and unnecessary name calling and extra villains. Spoiler alert: a corgi dog voiced by the same guy as Olaf from Frozen is an extra villain trying to take Thunder Bolts job by lying. Also Thunder Bolt isn't a good role model or friend because he was mean to the aforementioned corgi saying things like that the female dogs didn't want the side kick. There's so much name calling and belittling of other characters. The only likable character in the whole movie is Patch, but he's still just your standard good guy with a sort of Home Alone 2 gimmick thrown in for good measure. I could go on and on about how much is wrong with the movie. The only funny parts are the things you don't really want kids to laugh at (like the house keeper lady telling the bad guys that they better let the puppies go before she knocks the stupid out of them or the cross dressing scene). There's also a slight animation error where Patch is animated without his "patch" around his eye.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Once again Cruella de Vil is after the improbably large family of puppies in order to make a coat of their fur. The puppies and their family have moved to a farm, but somehow one puppy, Patch, is left behind. He meets his TV hero, Thunderbolt, who has his own reasons for wanting Patch's help with his heroics. Once again Cruella gets hold of the rest of the puppies, and it's up to Patch and Thunderbolt to save the day.

Is It Any Good?

Fans of the original 101 Dalmatians will enjoy this sequel, since they are very similar. The one potentially disturbing element here is that no one realizes Patch is missing until they see his picture in the paper, but when they're reunited they tell him they missed him very much, an inconsistency that may not be lost on some young viewers. All in all this is an entertaining movie, with some very creative animation, particularly involving the work of Cruella's newest protégé, Lars, a beatnik-type painter who specializes in, of course, paintings of spots.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difference between acting like a hero and really being one, and how this story follows the old saying "if at first you don't succeed, try again."

  • This was a "straight-to-DVD" sequel. Why are sequels almost always never as good as the original movie? Are there exceptions to this, and if so, what are some examples?

  • What do you think of the violence and peril here? Was it necessary? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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